Harmonica



HARMON I CA ,JMBS @W INVENTOR TTOHNE YS Patented Apr. 1, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARMONICA Application filed August` 27, 1927. Serial No. 215,826.

My invention relates to a new and im'- proved chromatic harmonica, that is, a harmonica adapted to enable the performer to readily play the chromatic scale as distinguished from the diatonic scale.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved combination of a slide and spring, the said slide being designed to cause a variation of a half note in the tone 1o which is being played, without any change in the manipulation or use of the instrument.

Other objects of my invention will be set forth in the following description and drawing, it being understood that the above general statement of the objects of my invention is intended merely to generally explain the same and not to limit it in any manner.

Fig. 1 is a top elevation, the regulating slide being shown in the outer position.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation. f y

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the left-hand portion of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 -4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an elevation on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

F ig. 6 is an elevation of the U-shaped member.

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the' slide.

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the inner slotted metal member.

The wooden body H of the harmonica is provided with metal side plates 3 and 3 h aving slots formed therein, the reeds R being connected to said side plates 3 and 3 in the well known manner.

The front of the wooden body H is divided int-o compartments O, there being upper and lower rows of compartments O in each of which two reeds R are located. a

This part of the construction in itself is old and well known to the art.

An inner perforated metal member 12 is provided with end openings 2l by means of which it can be connected to the front of the wooden body H by means of screws 6 and 7. This inner perforated member 12 is provided with openings corresponding to the openings O in the wooden body H.

. The left-hand side of the wooden body H is provided with a recess in which a coiled spring S is located. The spring S has the general shape shown in Fig. 3, for example, and the left-hand end thereof is located below a shoulder formed in the to-p of the recess l provided with an elongated slot 2O through which the right-hand leg of the spring S pro- ]ects.

The slide l, which is provided with a head 2, has slots 17 and 18 through which the Shanks of the screws 6 and 7 extend so that said slide 1 can move freely with respect to v said screws 6 and 7, but is restrained from any movement other than the longitudinal sliding movement. The left-hand end of the slide 1 is provided with a perforation 19 into which the right-hand leg of the spring S extends so that said spring tends to always force the slide into the outer position shown in Fig. 1.

The slide 1 is provided with staggered openings which have the same shape as the openings O.

When the slide 1 is in the outer posit-ion shown in Fig. 1, for example, the top row of openings therein register with the top openings O (it being assumed that the harmonica is viewed with the front edge thereof held in the vertical position) and the bottom row of openings in the member 12 are closed by the solid portions of the slide 1 located interme diate the bottom row of openings in the said slide.

which register with the two rows of openings in the member 12. Said guide member 11 is provided with openings 15 through which the shanls of the screws 6 and 7 eX- tend, and it also has openings 16 to register with the openings 26 in the member 12. The guide member 11 is also provided with an elongated slot 14 at the left-hand side thereof and the right-hand leg of the spring S can extend into this elongated slot 14, if desired, so as to insure a positive engagement between said leg and the slide 1, at all times.

The harmonia is also provided with an ornamental mouthpiece member 5 ywhich is connected to the front of Vthe harmonica by means of the screws 6 and 7 Whose heads are countersunk in said member 5, as `clearly shown in Fig. 4, for example.

The harmonica'is also provided with ornamental metal side pieces 4 and 10 which are held together by means of bolts 8 and 9 and nuts- 8 and 9.

The pressure of the screws 6 and 7 is taken up by the side walls of the U-shaped member 11 so that the slide 1 can be moved easily and without substantial friction. However, said slide 1 fits with suilicient tightness between the members 11 and 12 to prevent any substantial loss of air.

The chromatic scale has twenty tones or notes. Ten of the cells or openings 0 are normally closed by the slide 1.

Hence, by shifting the slide 1 from one of its positions to they other, the reeds R of either of a vertically arranged pair of cells are alternately exposed to the action of the air blast or current. The reeds R of each vertical row produce adjacent tones or notes in the chromatic scale so that a change in pitch corresponding to the chromatic semitone can be produced by merely actuating the slide 1. One of the reeds R in each cell is actuated by blowing in air and the other reed lR in said cell is actuated by producing an air suction.

I-Ieretofore in devices of this type it was necessary to use a blade spring which was external to the body of the harmonica.

According to the present invention, the spring is concealed at all times and a much more compact and efficient structure isy produced, and the cost of manufacture and assembly are reduced.

`While I have shown and described the spring S as being located at the left-hand end of the harmonica, it is obvious that my invention is not to be limited to this particular detail.

I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is clear that numerous changes and omissions could be made Without departing from its spirit.

I claim 1 1- A harmenca having e 'body' Portion having a recess and provided with Chambers msaeee opening into the front wall thereof, reeds associated with the said chambers, a metal plate having perforations corresponding to the openings of the said chambers and secured to the open face of the said body, said plate having an elongated slot at one end thereof, a slide mounted upon the said metal plate, guide means holding the said slide upon the front face of the body portion, said slide having an opening therein. which registers with the said elongated slot, and a spring located in said recess in the said body, said spring having a portion thereof extending through said elongated slot and engaging the said slide, said slide having openings adapted to register with said chambers.

2. In a harmonica, the subcombination of a body portion having a recess and also having a coiled springv provided with two legs and located in said recess in said body porated with the front face of the body portion,

said body portion having openings at the front face thereof, said slide having openings adapted to register with the-openings at said front face.

3. In a harmonica, the subcombination of a body portion having a recess and also having a coiled spring provided with two legs and located in said recess in said body portion, the two legs of the said spring bearing against the adjacent walls. of the said recess, and a slide having one of its ends secured to one of said legs, the said slide being associated with the front face of the body portion, said recess having a wall provided with a shoulder adjacent the other leg of said coiled spring, said other leg being in engagement with said shoulder, said body portion having openings at the front face thereof, said slide having openings adapted to register with the openings at said front face.

In testimony whereof I alii-X my signature.

vWILLIAM J. HAUSSLER. 

